CHOCOLATE
NEWSDavid
Allen Grier stars in this new comedy show that promises news and commentary,
"from an afro-centric perspective, be it sports, politics, or human
interest, as long as there is a brother involved we're going to kick it
to you raw."

To
start the show, Grier delivers a funny, stinging monologue on the current
state hip hop; he's an engaging host with superior monologue skills. This
brilliant comic has the chops to pull off a program that revolves around
his outrageous, spot on characterizations and genial nature.

In
most ways this program is a traditional comedy variety show masquerading
as political and social satire, totally dependant on bits that sometimes
go on entirely too long, like the one with Grier appearing as Maya Angelou.

Better
was the N Word Peace Treaty where a panel of 'experts' tries to come up
with a word as offensive to whites as - you know. But the skit ends in
a brawl, sure sign of a comedy writer's desperation.

There's
nothing to stop Chocolate News from being a top show; a bit with
Grier as rap star Phat Man in a PSA for No Child Left Behind was hilarious
butChocolate
News lacks the reality quotient that makes Comedy Central's other
political commentary shows so deadly.

It's
the Colbert Report meets In Living Color, whether that's
a good recipe in the long run remains to be seen.One good thing
- it's a lot better than the previews make it out to be.

THIS
'N' THAT
I just read where friend of this site, TV legend Lloyd Thaxton has passed
away. He was 81. Ken
Levine has a nice write up on the guy, our condolences to
his family, he was a great talent and a nice guy to boot.

This
looks like fun, from the press release: On behalf of City Lights Home
Video we would like to present MITZI GAYNOR RAZZLE DAZZLE! The Special
Years on DVD November 18th! In celebration of the 40th anniversary of
her first televised special (Mitzi, NBC, 1968) and the 50th anniversary
of her break-through Golden Globe nominated performance in the blockbuster
film Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, City Lights Home Entertainment
in association with Green Isle, Inc. is releasing this new documentary
encompassing the ultimate collection of song and dance performances from
Gaynor's classic network television specials unseen for three decades.

In
addition to the highlights of Gaynor's classic performances are new interviews
with Gaynor herself, world renowned Emmy® winning costume designer
Bob Mackie, Tony-winner Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, Pushing Daisies), director/choreographer
Tony Charmoli, dancers Alton Ruff and Randy Doney (who performed with
Mitzi on the road and in her TV specials), Nine-time Emmy® Award winning
comedy legend Carl Reiner, best-selling author and critic Rex Reed, and
Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara, currently starring on Broadway as "Nellie
Forbush" in the 2008 Tony Award® winning version of Rodgers &
Hammerstein's South Pacific, the role made famous by Mitzi Gaynor in the
1958 film version.

As
well as coming to DVD, Mitzi is coming to public television! There will
be one hour special on channel WLIW, NYC, Ch 21 on OCTOBER 11th at 8pm!
Mitzi herself will be making a live in-studio appearance and you will
have the chance to call in and ask her questions. This will also be the
start of the NY telephone pledge drive which then will become national
starting in December.

I
just saw a funny TV ad for Oliver Stone's W. I used to be good
at predicting box office grosses when I worked in the business so I'll
go out on a limb and say that this movie will have a historically low
opening weekend. Reviews are overwhelmingly tepid.

Thanks
to Dan Wingate for this very funny clip about the upcoming digital conversion
from Talkshow with Spike Feresten:

RING
AROUND THE ROSIE
Patrick writes: "I read your item in your blog, in which
one of Rosie O'Donnell's bootlickers gives her more credit than she deserves
for "inventing" the talk-variety format. How appalling. I hope
she falls flat on her face with her upcoming "variety show".
How could NBC give that crackpot prime-time exposure? On the night before
Thanksgiving, no less. Ellen DeGeneres had something called "Ellen's
Big Variety Show" on about a year ago. That may have tanked, as we
never saw more. I had forgotten how many variety shows were on until I
read your site; seems like you're right - everyone did have one. The variety
format has taken out bigger stars than O'Donnell - Redd Foxx and Richard
Pryor, to name two. As you know. Maybe Rosie and her show don't stand
a chance.

"Didn't
anyone tell her variety shows are dead, and have been for over 20 years?
Who at NBC did she bully-boy to get prime-time exposure? Jeff Zucker himself?
Guess I'll be watching House or Law & Order that night.
One question that sticks in my mind, and has for years, is this - I distinctly
recall an article in TV Guide saying that when NBC cancelled Get Smart
in 1969, they offered Don Adams to host his own variety show. Adams stuck
with Get Smart on his own. Carl Birkmeyer, the web's Smart expert, said
"No." Adams was under contract to Get Smart and was obliged
to follow the show. Which he did, when it went to CBS for its last seasons.
He did not recall any variety show offer to Adams, yet I more than vaguely remember
that from the Guide. Do you? I also recall one of the reasons McLean Stevenson
left M*A*S*H was to host his own variety show. Which never materialized.
Bad career move."

I
think, if nothing else, it shows how desperate the networks are to find
something the people want to watch that can be produced on a reasonable
budget.

You're
right, McLean Stevenson did have his own variety
special / pilot (it was produced by Sonny & Cher
alums Allan Blye and Bob Einstein with guest Raquel Welch) that went nowhere
and he guest hosted The Tonight Show several times besides the
dumb failed sitcoms he presided over at NBC. As
for Don Adams he did turn up on a bunch of variety shows after Get
Smart and had a syndicated series called Don Adams' Screen Test.

That
said, I think it's vaguely possible that O'Donnell's show COULD be a hit
if the focus isn't on her, there are no silly skits, and the game show
aspect of it works. There hasn't been a show that offered audience members
at home a chance to win money or prizes in a long time. Dialing for
Dollars anyone?

MONDAY
MUSINGS
I've been occasionally watching the daily versions of Deal Or No Deal
and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, both shows are faster paced
and loads more entertaining than the primetime versions are/were. On both
programs contestants can win up to $500,000 in a half hour. Then again,
on Deal the other day, a contestant walked away with $40. And
he took a deal!

I
netflixed Big Bang Theory Season 1 last week and I have to say
I really enjoyed it, it's a pleasant time killer. Frothy. And it's great
to see Roseanne co-stars Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and series
star Johnny Galecki working together again as they did in one episode
(Sara Gilbert pops up in several).

"Critics
are still analyzing Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric and they're
saying she was halting, repetitive and stumped on basic questions. In
other words, Palin appeared very presidential." - Conan O'Brien

Matthew
Perry will be starring in a Friends spin-off in which his character
Chandler will act as a sort of den father to a couple of young guys trying
to make it in Hollywood. Given that Chandler was living in New York for
all those years, it sounds like the producers took an existing idea and
stamped the Friends brand on it. Then again, I probably haven't
watched a dozen episodes of Friends so what do I know?

I
was watching The Price Is Right today (it's my job!) - did CBS
tell Drew Carey to amp up the excitement, he seems a bit over-caffeinated.
Now when you spin the wheel you have a chance at a bonus of $25,000 or
$10,000.

REMEMBERING
ALFALFA
Teresa Bain writes: "My mother, who now lives in Brandon, FL.,
was Alfalfa's cousin. She told me how Alfalfa died. This is the story,
according to the family... Someone OWED money to Alfalfa and he went to
get it. Alfalfa was drunk at the time. Alfalfa confronted the guy and
the guy pulled out a gun. Alfalfa only had a knife. According to the family,
Alfalfa was shot over a debt of only $50.00. My mother told me she hated
Alfalfa because he was so mean to her."

That's
close to what happened, the official story at the time. You can read all
about the mystery behind the death
of Alfalfa here.

COMING
TO DVD
Bob Huggins writes: "Alpha Video will have two releases of children’s
shows coming up on November 25th - Diver
Dan (Volume 2) and Captain
Video and his Video Rangers. And, later this month (October
28th) Alpha will release Super
Circus. It’s really great to see these old series resurrected
in the digital age."

Here's
a collection I just discovered that came out a couple of months ago,
Kids
TV of the 50s and 60s. From the product description:
Be a Baby Boomer Kid all over again with this collection of shows from
television of yesteryear! Watch -Diver Dan as he has under water adventures
with talking fish-Howdy Doody as Buffalo Bob tries to sell his milkshake
machine-Super Circus filled with clown and circus fun-The Magic Clown
as he promotes Bonomo Turkish Taffy-plus a promotional film for Gilbert
Toys from 1963! It's a collection that's sure to bring back the happy
days!

I
don't know but I'm betting these episodes are on the wonderful Hiya
Kids! DVD collection.

'TVParty.com,
a TV history website... its links to Amazon.com help sell TV DVDs."- Boston Globe

"All
the coolest, strangest, most absurd shows and peculiar tube trends ever
-- they're all part of the wallow that is TVparty!"- Diane Werts, Newsday

'A
twisted walk
down memory lane!'- Sharon Edry, TV Guide

'Top
Five Sites! Interviews and articles... are must reads.' - London Sunday Times

'It's
too good to be true. Put together by Billy Ingram, TVparty.com has gossip,
scandal, sex, singing, dancing, action, drama and celebrities with their
'original parts'' - LA Times

'An ingenious tribute that elevates the TV past to artlike proportions.
Site guru Billy Ingram has compiled features both over-the-top and museum
worthy, blissful nostalgia for those born in the '40s or the '80s. A+ - Entertainment Weekly